What is a System Inventory?

A system inventory is a one-stop resource for discovering information about the information resources owned or operated by an organization. Many organizations, from corporations to federal agencies typically have different information resources to meet various needs.

As of March 2008 the EPA has approximately 1500 records in its Registry of EPA Applications, Models and Data sets (READ). There are three types of information resources in READ:


Application or System

a discrete set of elements or components (e.g., software or computer programs) organized for the collection, processing, maintenance, use, sharing, dissemination, or disposition of information.

Applications/systems serve a range of functions at EPA. One application collects air emission data for air pollutants. Another system is the warehouse for data about water monitoring tests. Another tracks Freedom of Information Act requests received from the public.

As part of a federal-wide effort to improve management of information resources, EPA has established an Enterprise Architecture (EA). The EA helps tie EPA’s business and applications/systems and infrastructure back to their reason for existence - supporting the mission of the enterprise. An EA needs a comprehensive inventory of those applications/systems, which is provided by READ.


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Model

A model is a prediction tool that uses mathematical data to project experimental results. It is a small imitation of the real thing; a system of postulates, data, and inferences presented as a mathematical description of an entity or state of affairs.

Models are used at EPA to estimate the environmental fate of pollutants, their impacts on human health and the environment, and the costs and benefits of alternative policies. Frequently, these models become the basis for environmental cleanup, protection, or regulation. Models therefore underlie how the Agency chooses to address a multitude of environmental questions.


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Dataset

A data set is a named collection of data that contains individual data units organized (formatted) in a specific way and accessed by a specific access method that is based on the data set organization. While there are no records for data sets in READ at present, EPA is looking to include information about this type of information resource in the future.


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